USHRN's Human Rights Hearing occurred on October 24 and Gulf Coast Regional Meeting on October 25, both in New Orleans. The hearing gathered information on human rights abuses prevalent or unique to the region from people directly impacted. The regional meeting was a great opportunity for human rights and social justice advocates to come together to share experiences and strategies (check out the agenda).

Human Rights Hearing: Friday, October 24 @ 5:30 pm - Gulf Coast area residents whose basic human rights are being denied through the actions of government testified about their experiences.

Regional Meeting: Saturday, October 25 - Human rights and social justice advocates shared experiences and strategies, learned about human rights struggles in the region, and discovered opportunities to collaborate on new and existing projects.

Meeting goals

Strengthen/grow activism in the southeastern U.S.

Bring attention to the current state of human rights in the region (in light of 10th and 5th anniversary of Katrina and the BP oil spill, respectively)

Gather testimony from directly impacted persons to share with UN review committees and U.S. Government policy makers at the local, state and federal levels

Raise awareness of relevance of international human rights mechanisms to local and regional issues and advocacy efforts, and engage groups in this work

Promote the application of an intersectional analysis and methodology grounded in a gendered lens, as essential for effective human rights work that is deep, broad and sustainable

Promote constructive conversations about solidarity – how this looks and is realized in the human rights movement

Engage youth in active participation in the meeting

Foster collaboration that will continue after the meeting among groups in the region

Planning committee

The New Orleans hearing and regional meeting was coordinated by a local and regional steering committee of social justice advocates:

Related Information

USHRN members gather at member meetings and regional meetings to network and collaborate on multiple human rights issue areas. Annual member meetings provide opportunity for members to inform USHRN's program...